Mechanical time-fuse.



No. 896,135. PATENTED AUG. 18, 1908. J. F. MEIGS & E. A. GATHMANN.

MESHANIGAJI TIME FUSE.

APPLICATION FILED DEG. 19,1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 896,135. PATENTED AUG. "18, 1908. J. P. MEIGS & E. A. GAT'HMANN.

MECHANICAL TIME FUSE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.19,1004.

2 SHEETSSHBBT 2.

v fwkmaw M,%

our improvement; Fig. 2, a cross section on the ignited gases to-the magazine "when the chanical Time-Fuses, of W ich the following 'tion and arrangement of parts fully set forth i he a pin 7 projecting from a piston 5 which is but, as shown, there is a block 14, which may N1 no srr e-ENT OF .TOHN F. MEIGS AND EMIL A. GATHMANN, OF SOUTH BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGN ORS TO BETHLEHEM STEEL COMPANY, OF SOUTH BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA, A COR- PORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

menswear. TIME-FUSE.

Patented Aug. 18, 1908.

Application filed December 1.9, 1904. Serial No. 237,562.

To all whom "it may concern:

,Be it known that we, JOHN F. Mnres and EMIL A. GATHMANN, citizens of the United States, residing at South Bethlehem, North ampton county, Pennsylvania, have invented I certain new and useful Im rovements in Meis a specification.

Our invention relates. to time fuses for use with projectiles, as in shrapnel or explosive projectiles, andhas ilor its object the timing of the explosion, and consists in the construchereinafter in connection, in some instances, with the use of a plastic material for controllin the detent of the explo'der.

n the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional of afuse embodying the line 1-1,,Fig. 1; Fig. 3, an external view of the fusesh'o'wn in Figs. 1 and 2.

The casing A of the fuse may be suitably constructed in any desired manner having two sections 1, 2, as in the construction of. Figs. 1 and 2, the section 1 having a threaded nip le 19, for screwing into a corresponding soc et of the rojectile, with a magazine chamber 12 havlng ports or channels a, b.

In a transverse recess or chamber 0, is the ex loder, which, as shown, consists of a movabl e hammer 8 and an anvil 22 which has a firing pin 9 adapted to engage the ca 10, the seat 0 which is in the hammer. T 1e hammer in this case has a chamber 11 for the priming charge and a vent'i, and the channel ais arranged to be closed or covered by the hammer when it is'in its retracted position, but to be uncovered to permit the passage of hammer is thrown outward under centrifugal action.

To hold the hammer in its retracted position until the firing of the projectile, there is .provided a suitable detent which, as shown,

movable longitudinally in a chamber 6 of't'he casing under the action of a spring ,6. The I detent is maintained in its position holding the hammer, by any suitable locking device,

be spherical, lying in an opening n in the wa between the chamber e and a parallel chember f, and a retaining device 13 in the latter chamber when in its forward position thrusts the block inward in front of a shoulder 24 of the piston. form of a block or plunger having a recess it so arranged that when the retainin device moves backward the recess will be lirought opposite the block 14 ermitting the latter to move outward and re ease the piston of the detent when the latter will be projected for- The retaining device 13 is in the A ward by its s ring and the hammer will be released and Wlll move radially outward under centrifugal action, bringing the cap against the in of the exploder and firing the charge.

ormally the retaining device 13 is in its forward position confined by-a shear wire 15, which is cut on the firing of the projectile, owing to the inertia of the said device. In order to prevent any possible movement of the retaining device 13 until a projectile is to be used, a cotter pin 16 ispassed through cor responding openings in the casing and rc taming device with its head 16 outside the shell so that the said pin may be withdrawn byhand prior to firing.

Any suitable means may be employed in.

the construction shown for controlling the outward "movement of the detent and for timing this movement so as to time the explosion, but, as shown, the chamber e is filled with a retarding medium consisting of a material which when confined holds-the piston in its retracted position, but with a gete or valve-of any suitable character whic may be opened to permit the flow of the said material from the chamber e into the chamber m in the shell, the adjustment of the gate determining the rapidity of the flow and the time of the explosion. The parts shown may be used in connection with a liquid but to obviate objections to the use of liquid materials we employ a granular material, that is, a material of such a character that it will not be ailected by extremes of heat and cold or change its capacity to flow under normal conditions and-that will not be liable to leak ast the piston as in the use of a liquid. l Vhile granular materials of different charac ters may be made use of, we refer a material in which the grains are attened asin what is known as "flake graphite, but talc,

fine metallic powders, as bronze powders, or

fine mica, may be used, and a lubricant may he combined therewith in some cases.

,valve from outside the casing.

In the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the valve or gate 26 is in the form of a plate sliding across the end of the chamber and provided with a Vshaped notch 3, the normal position of the gate being shown in Fig. 1, and as this position is transverse to the axis of the casing, the gate can be thrown outwardv by centrifugal action. Normally the gate is locked in the position shown in Fig. 1 by the retaining device 13, a projection 17 of which occupies a position opposite the edge of the gate until the retaining device is relatively carried rearwardly by its in ertia. The extent to which the gate or valve is moved determines the extent of the openingt for the escape of the material from the chamber 0, and in order to secure the proper adjustment of the gate to thus control the How and determine the time of explosion, there is provided any suitable stop device capable of being adjusted to position to limit the extent of movement of the gate or As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the stop device consists of a disk or plate 18 having an edge p so curvcd that the turning of the disk 18 to different positions will determine the extent to which the gate may be moved radially before strilc. ing said edge. To adjust this stop plate or disk, the latter is connected by pins 29 to the movable section 2 of the casing to turn with the latter, and ends upon the section 52 are adapted to t 1e teeth 30 in an annular recess 31 of the body 1 of the casing, so to permit the rotation of the scctionilin the direction of rotation of the projectile only, and to retain the section 2 after adjustment rotatively in one direction, it is secured by tight ening a clamping ring 32 flanged to'overlap a flange on the section 2, having threads en gaging corres ending threads of the section 1 and-holding t 10 two sections together. l" he pawls are spring pawls and can yield to per mit the rotation of the dome in the direction in which the projectile will rotate.

To time the fuse, the section or dome portion 2 of the casing is turned to bring an indicating mark thereon, Fig. 3, in proper relation to a graduation. on the ring 32.

Without limiting ourselves to the precise construction and arrangement of the parts shown, We claim 1. A time fuse for projectiles provided with exploding means, a detent, and a grannlar material the flow of which controls the movement of ,thedetcnt, sui-istantially as set forth. i

2. A time fuse for projcctiles provided with exploding means, a dclcnt, a granular material the flow of which controls the movcment of the dctcnt, and means for conlining said material until the projcctilc is fired, anbstantially as set forth.

3. A time fuse for projectiles provided with exploding means, a detent, a material the flow of which controls the movement of the dctcnt, a gate confining the material in place, and. means for automatically 0 )ening said gate whcn the projectile is 'hred, substantially as sct forth.

4. A'timc fuse for projectiles provided with an vcxploder, a detcnt for the movable part of the cxplodcr, a chamber containing a lody of granular material controlling the movcmcnt of thc dctcnt, and a gate controlling the flow of said material from the chamber, subslmltially as set forth.

5. A time fuse for projectiles provided with an oxplodcr, a dctont for the movable wart of the exploder, a chamber containing a body of material for controlling the movemcnt of the detent, and a gate controlling the flow of said material from the chamber, said gate arranged to move under centrifugal action, r-rnbslantially as sct forth.

U. A time fuse for projectiles provided with an crplodcr, a dctcnt for the movable part of thc cxplodcr, a chamber containing a body of material for controlling the movemcnt of the dctcnt, a gate crmtrolling the flow of said material from the chamber, said gate being arrangcd to move radially to release the material, and arctaining device for holding the gate closed, ibstantially as set forth.

7. it time fuse for projectiles providcd with an cxplodcr, a detent for the movable iartof the cxplodcr, a chamber containing a Jody of matcrial controlling the movement of the detcnt, a gate controlling the flow of said material from the chamber, said gate arranged to move radially undcr centrifugal action, and a retaining dcvicc for holding the gate closed, said dcvicc arranged to shift its position on firing the projectile, substantially as set forth.

5?. A time fusc for projectiles provided with an cxplodcr, a dctcnt for the movable part of lhc cirplodcr, a chambcr containing a body of malcrial controlling thc movement of the dclcnt, a gale conlrolling the flow of said material from the cln11nbcr,-snid gate arrangcd to move radially under centrifugal acticm, a retaining device for holding the gatc closed, said device, arrangcd to shift its position on firing the projectile, and a re taincr for said retaining dcvicc, substantially as sct forth.

9. A time l'usc for projcclilcs having exploding moans, a dctcnt thcrcfor, a chamber containing a body of llhil'tl'lfll controlling the movcmcnt of the dctcnt, a gate closing the outlct of said clmmbcr. and means whereby the gate is opmuwl on firing thc projectile, substantially as sci forth.

10. A time i'usc for projcclilcs having exploding means, a dclcnt lhcrcfor, a chamber containing a body of granular material controlling thc movcm nl of the detent, a gate arranged to slidc lransvcrscly' across the outlet of said' chamber, and means holdin gate in position until the projectile is substantially as set forth.

11. A time fuse for projectiles having exploding means, a detent therefor, a chamber containing a body of granular material controlling the movement of the detent, a gate arranged to slide transversely across the outlet of said chamber, and a retaining device arranged to shift its position to ,release the gate when the projectile is fired,'substan tially as set forth. a

12. A time fuse for projectiles consisting I of a casing with a chamber, a gate, a material capable of flowing from the chamber on o ening the gate, an exploder, a hammer t erefor arranged to move radially under cehtrifugal .action, and a detent for said ,a-hammer controlled by said material, substantiallyas set forth.-

13. A time fusefor projectiles provided with an exploder having a hammer arranged to move under centrifugal action, a detent, a

retarding medium therefor, agate for confining said retarding medium, and means for lockin said detentand gate until the projec tile is %red, substantially as set forth. r

14. A time fuse for projectiles provided with an exploder having a hammer arranged to move under centrifugal action, a detent, a

retarding medium therefor, .a gate for con fining said retarding medium arranged to open under centrifugalaction, and means for lockin said detent and gate until the projectile is fired, substantially as set forth.

15. A time fu'se for projectiles provided with an ex-ploder having-a hammer arranged to move under centrifugal. action, a detent, a spring for actuat' the same in one direction, a retarding me ium therefor,"a ate forconfimng said retarding medium, an means for locki said detent and gate until the projectile is red, substantially as set forth.

16. A. time'- fuse for projectiles provided with an exploder having a hammer, a detent forsaid hammer, means for positively moving the detent in one direction, a retarding medium for regulating-its movement in the othehdirectionfand agate controlling the flow of said medium, the hammer and ate arranged to move under. centrifugal action,

' substantially as set forth.

as f

,ing thedetent in one directlon, a retarding 17. A time fuse for projectiles provided with an exploder'having a hammer, a detent or said hammer, means for positively movmedium for regulating its movement in the other directipn,a gate controlling the dew of said medium, the hammer; and gate 811'.

ranged to move under centrifugal'action, a

locking device for holding the detent against the action of'the spring, and means'for releasingthe locking device on firing the projectile, substantia ly as set forth. p 18. A-time fuse for projectiles provided of said medium, the hammer and gate arforth.

for saidhammer, means for positively moving the detentin one direction, a retardi i'nedium for regulating its movement in the p medium for regulating its movement in the other direction, a gate controlling the flew of said medium, the hammer and gate arranged to move under centrifugal action, and a means for locking said detent and said thie I with an exploder having a hammer, a detent re ate arranged to release the same as the proectile is fired, substantially as'se't'forth'.

20. A time fuse-for projectiles provided.

for-said hammer, means for positively moving the detent in one direct1on,a retarding medium for regulating its movement in the other direction, a gate controlling'the flow ranged to move under centrifugal action, a

with an exploder having a hammer, a detent locking device for locking the detent, and .a

retainer arran ed to hold said locking in position an movable longitudinal device b its inertia to a position to release the oc ing device on firing the projectile, substantially as set forth. L 1

21. A time'fuse for projectiles provided, with an exploder having a hammer, a detent; for said hammer, means for positively mov ing the detent in one direction, a retarding 'medium for regulating its movement in the other direction, a gate controlling the flow of said medium, the hammer and gate arranged to'move under centrifugal action, a locking device for locking the detent and gate, and, a retainer arranged to hold'said ocking device and ate in position and movable longitudinally y-its inertia to a position,

to release the docking device and gate'on firing the projectile, substantially as set.

22. The combination in a time fuse for prov jectiles, of a cahing, a radially movable hamm'er,a chamber, a piston therein having a stem the iston in one direction, and a gate controlling the outlet of said chamber, the parts 1 arranged to permit the gate to be shifted by centrifugal action when the/projectile is fired, substantially .as set forth. v 23. The combination in'a time fuse. for, pro j' jectiles,- of a casing, a radiall 'movable'hammer, a chamber, a piston t erem'havmg-a stem for engaging the hammer, 'a spring for is) A mg the detent in one d1rect1on,;a retarding? I l for engaglngthe hammer,a sprmgfor moving moving the piston in one direction, a lock for locking the piston against the action of the spring, a gate controlling the outlet of said chamber, the parts arranged to permit. the gate to be shifted by centrifugal action, and means for automatically displacing the lock when the projectile is tired, substantially as set forth.

it. The combination in a time fuse, of an exploder, a detent,. a )iston arranged in a chamber containing a isplaeeable material,

a gate adjustable automatically to control the flow of material from the chamber, and a stop device adjustable to control the extent of n'iovemcnt of the gate, substantially as set forth.

2:". The combination in a time fuse, of an exploder, a detent, a piston arranged in a chamber containing a displaeeable material, a gate controlling the flow of material from the chamber, and a stop device for controlling the movement of the gate and cmisisting of a rotatable plate having a cam. edge, substantially as set forth.

26. The combination in a time fuse for projectiles, of a casing in sections, one adjust able rotatively in respect to the other, an exploder, a detent, a retarding medium controlling the detent, a gate controlling the flow of said material, and a stop device conneetedwvith the adjnstal.)le section for controlling the extent of movement of the gate, substantially as set forth.

27. The combination in a time fuse for projcctiles, of a casing containing a chamber with an anvil therein, a hammer, having a seat for a cap, movable in said cl'ramber to the anvil under centrifugal action, and a chamber for a priming charge communicating with the chamber having an anvil, and provided with a vent, substantially as set forth.

22a. The combination in a time fuse for pro- "ectiles, of a easin having a transverse reeess, an anvil at one end thereof, a hammer sliding in said recess under centrifugal action, and having a chamber for a priming charge and a vent, and a channel in the casing arranged to e closed by the hammer until the latter is moved to the anvil, substantially as set forth.

29. The combination in a time fuse for projectiles, of a hammer, a detent therefor, a piston connected with said detent and movable in a chamber, a block movable in a recess in the wall of said chamber to engage a shoulder of the piston; and a retaining device sliding in a chamln-r, bearing normally on said block, and with a recess arranged to he carried opposite said block when the retainer is shifted on tiring tlm'projectile, substantially as set forth.

30. The combination in a time fuse, of a casing in two sections clan'iped together to rotate one on the other, means for preventmg such rotation in the reverse direction of rotation of the profectile, means for securing the parts after adjustment, and exploding and timing means within the casing, snbstantially as set forth.

31. In a time-fuse, the combination of a tiinc-mechanism,a normally restrained firingbolt, centrifugally-operated means for holding said ti!ire-mechanism normally restrained, and means for eonti olling the movement of the time mechanism, when released from ongagement with the eentril'ugally operated means.

32. In a time-fuse, the combination of a time-mechanisn1, a tiring bolt, and means for holding said time-mechanism normally restrained, said means adapted to be operated by rentrifngal force to release the timemeehanism and thereby the iiring-bolt.

153. In a fuse, the combination of a fuse casing, a primer, primer exploding means comprising separate members normally locked together and means for releasing said members one' from the other at a predetermined time whereby one of said members is free to move and explode, the primer.

34. In a shell-fuse, the combinatimi. with a normally restrained timemechanism and tiring bolt, and centrifugal means for releasing said time-inechanism and thereby the firing bolt.

35. In a time-fuse, the combination with a snitableeasing, of a spring-actuated piston, held normally restrained b means adapted to be released by centrifuga force, and means for controlling the speed of travel of the piston.

36. In a time-fuse, the combination of a spring-actuated time-mechanism, a normallyrestrained firing-bolt, and means for holding said time-meehanism normally restrained, said means adapted to be operated by contrifugal force to release the time-meehanisn1 and thereby thefiring-bolt.

37. In a time'fuse, the combination of a spring-actuated time-mechanism, a normallyrestrained firing-bolt, means for holding said timc-mechanism normally restrained, said means adapted to be operated by centrifugal force to release the time-mcchanism and thereby the tiring-bolt, and means for regu lating the speed of travel of said. timemeclntnism.

38. In a time-fnse, the combination of a tiInc-mechanism, afiring-bolt held normally restrained by said time-mechanism, and means for holding the time-inechanism normally restrained, said means adapted to be operated by centrifugal force to release said time-mechanism and thereby the liring-bolt.

2-39. In a time-fuse, the combination of a time-meclmnism, a firin -bolt, means for temporarily connecting said firing-bolt with said timeanechanism, and means for holding the time mechanism normally restrained,

' said means adapted to be operated'by centrifugal forge to release said time-mechanism and thereby. the firing-bolt.

"40. In a time-fuse, the combination with a suitable casing, of a spring aetuated iston, held normally restrained by a movab e part adapted to be released by centrifugal force, and means for controlling'the speed of travel ofthe istonf f v 41. n a time-fuse, the Combination with a suitable casing, of a sprmg-actuated piston, held normally restrained by a movable part,

a nonnallyrrestrained firing-bolt, said part being adapted to be operated by centrifugal force, whereby the piston is released to the 15 action of its spring, and thereby the firingbolt, and means for controlling the speedof travel of the piston. l x

In testimony whereof We have signedour names to this specification in the presence of 2( two subscribing witnesses.

l JOHN F. MEIGS,

EMIL APGATHMANN. Witnesses:

EDWIN A. MILLER,

CLARENCE 'F. FEHNEL. 

